Central Victoria

Central Victoria, Australia

Joe Mortelliti's life long love, from when he was first given a Brownie camera as a boy, was photography. It was the focus of his work life for many years. He loved to travel with his wife Marion to as many parts of Australia as he could. He had the ability to 'see' the beauty of our land in such a way that he could photograph it for the delight of others. These photos are a legacy that he has left us. Used by permission and with appreciation.

Blackwood Cemetery, central Victoria, Australia. The old town of Blackwood has many wonderful historic buildings. July 2004.

Farm gate, Gooch's Lane, Macedon Ranges, central Victoria, Australia. This old farm gate way is looking a little tired, but adding charmingly to the rural atmosphere in the early morning fog. August 2004.

Pipers Creek, near Kyneton, Macedon Ranges, central Victoria, Australia. Heavy fog at Pipers Creek, near Kyneton. Staying on local farm I was able to be up and out early to photograph in these interesting conditions. August 2004.

Windmill at Pipers Creek, near Kyneton, Macedon Ranges, central Victoria, Australia. I have been on the look out to capture a windmill for a very long time, but generally have not found features surrounding them suitable to make a good image. The fog and cows made this windmill into an image that I find very pleasing. August 2004.

Tanks, Morris Lane, at Pipers Creek, near Kyneton, Macedon Ranges, central Victoria, Australia. Old water tanks sitting upon rustic timber poles in a long abandoned farm. This charming scene was only recently saved from summer fires by being water bombed from a helicopter. August 2004.

Rosebury Hill, Pipers Creek, near Kyneton, Macedon Ranges, central Victoria, Australia. This hill is also earmarked for wind farm turbines, along with the ridge line beyond.

Local communities are being split, adjoining property owners to where turbine development is planned are concerned with noise, views and now property values falling up to 40%. Wind farms at Toora in South Gippsland confirm people walking away from homes due to noise, illness and falling property values. August 2004.

I don't know whether this wind farm development has gone ahead since Joe wrote these words in 2004. I share his concerns that the visual and noise pollution of these taxpayer subsidised machines are bringing to some pristine areas of the world, for very questionable returns

Hanging Rock, Macedon, central Victoria, Australia. Watching the last rays of sunlight from the top of Mt Macedon. The sunlight skims across hanging rock and the evening is heavy with rain clouds and mist over Cobaw and across the Macedon Ranges. August 2004.

McHarg Range, near Heathcote, central Victoria, Australia. I met John Howard, a local farmer who lives on this property and is fighting to stop the ridge lines above him from being covered with turbines for a wind farm. Noise from turbines is a real issue for these people living near by and the industrialisation of these rural landscapes is vandalism. August 2004.

Shearing shed, Redesdale, central Victoria, Australia. Drought has made conditions very harsh in the country. Located in the region of the Bendigo gold fields in Victoria. I felt this scene represented an Australian shearing shed well. April 2004.

Two lane Mia Mia bridge, Redesdale, central Victoria, Australia. Known as the Mia Mia Bridge. The road drops down steeply into a valley and this unusual bridge that is separated into two lanes. Built in 1867, though completed in 1868, it’s height is restricted to smaller vehicles as large trucks cannot fit under the steel arches. The river below has dried out due to many years of drought. February 2004.

Flooded road near Maldon, central Victoria, Australia. As the song 'My Country' puts it, Australia is a land of droughts and flooding rains, and has always been so.

Right now, in January 2016, less than 100 kilometres away near the Great Ocean Road, there are bushfires that have already destroyed the town of Wye River. There are bushfires in Western Australia and South Australia. But there are floods in Sydney and in Queensland.